The Karnataka High Court has refused to stay criminal proceedings against a Bengaluru-based dermatologist accused of spreading misinformation about Nandini dairy products through Instagram reels. The court's decision allows the police investigation to continue into allegations that the doctor made unverified claims about the safety of certain Nandini products.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna declined to grant interim relief to dermatologist Dr. Sharanya Padma while hearing her petition seeking to quash a First Information Report (FIR) registered against her. The court observed that social media platforms should not be used to create public panic, particularly regarding widely consumed food products.
Dr. Padma reportedly works at a private hospital in Bengaluru and also runs a clinic in Malur, Kolar district.
The case has drawn attention to the growing debate over health-related content on social media, misinformation, and the responsibilities of medical professionals when discussing consumer products online.
The FIR was registered by the Malleswaram Police in Bengaluru following a complaint filed by the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which markets milk and dairy products under the Nandini brand.
According to the complaint, Dr. Padma uploaded Instagram reels and other social media content alleging that some Nandini products were unsafe for consumption. The videos reportedly targeted products such as strawberry-flavoured milk and similar beverages, claiming they contained artificial colours, preservatives, and chemicals that could pose health risks.
KMF alleged that the claims were baseless and created unnecessary panic among consumers. The federation stated that the allegations could damage public confidence in the Nandini brand, which is widely consumed across Karnataka.
According to KMF, the social media posts projected certain Nandini products as unsafe and caused confusion among its crores of consumers who have grown up using the brand. The federation also maintained that its products are manufactured using approved and safe methods prescribed by statutory authorities and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
During the hearing, Dr. Padma's counsel argued that her comments were directed only at strawberry-flavoured Nandini products and not at Nandini milk in general.
The argument failed to convince the court.
Justice Nagaprasanna repeatedly questioned whether the dermatologist had any scientific evidence to support her claims. The judge asked whether she had tested the products, obtained certification, or communicated her concerns to government authorities before publishing the content online.
The court also expressed concern about the use of terms such as "spurious milk" and "toxic" without verified evidence.
Questioning the basis of the allegations, the judge observed that individuals cannot make sweeping public statements that may generate fear among consumers without proper testing or scientific validation.
"How can you tell that? Have you tested the milk? Have you certified the milk? Have you communicated it to the government? Just making reels on Instagram," Justice Nagaprasanna remarked during the hearing.
The bench further remarked that if a person believes a product is unsuitable, they may choose not to consume it, but publicly portraying it as unsafe without evidence can create wider societal problems.
Referring to the allegation that the milk was "spurious", the judge observed that merely disliking a product was no justification for spreading alarm and asked whether the product had ever been sent for testing.
In strong observations during the hearing, Justice Nagaprasanna emphasized that social media platforms are not meant to spread unverified claims that could create public panic.
The court noted that people cannot casually make statements online that affect public perception of essential consumer products. It observed that such actions may lead to confusion and concern among citizens without any established scientific basis.
The judge stated that individuals were increasingly making public allegations "at the drop of a hat" and creating unnecessary issues in society through social media platforms.
"You can't generate panic like this saying milk is spurious. At the drop of a hat, you make statements and create problems in society. Instagram is not meant for that." the court observed.
After hearing both sides, the Karnataka High Court issued notices to the State government and the Karnataka Milk Federation but declined to stay the investigation.
Justice Nagaprasanna specifically permitted the police probe to proceed while the matter remains under consideration.
While dictating the order, the judge said, "Issue notice... No stay. I will permit further investigation in this case."
As a result, investigators will continue examining the content posted by the dermatologist and the allegations made by KMF regarding misinformation and public panic.
According to court proceedings, the FIR was registered under:
Section 353(1)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to statements conducive to public mischief.
Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.
The complaint alleges that the social media posts may have misled the public and harmed consumer confidence in Nandini products.
During the hearing, counsel appearing for Dr. Padma informed the court that she had already tendered an apology regarding the controversy.
However, the submission did not persuade the court to grant interim protection or stay the criminal proceedings.
The High Court maintained that the investigation should continue so authorities can determine the facts surrounding the social media content and the allegations raised by KMF.
In response to the controversy, Karnataka Milk Federation issued a public statement asserting that allegations against Nandini products were false and misleading.
KMF stated that a few Nandini products had been unfairly portrayed as unsafe through Instagram and other social media platforms, resulting in confusion among consumers.
The federation said the allegations were baseless and maintained that Nandini products comply with standards laid down by statutory bodies and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)
